Projectile

ABSTRACT

A flechette small caliber projectile providing tracer visibility capability during flight while ballistically trajectory matching a small caliber ball flechette and retaining a high velocity low drag profile. Tracer material is located in a rearwardly opening internal cavity provided in the flechette projectile cylindrical body portion. Fin stabilizers surround or extend radially outward of the tracer cavity.

United States Patent Dietsch et al.

Assignee:

Filed:

PROJECTILE Inventors: Francis W. Dietsch, Levittown;

Ronald D. DiGirolamo, Philadelphia, both of Pa.

The United States of America as Dec. 7, 1973 App]. No.: 423,048

[52] US. Cl. 102/87; lO2/93; lOZ/DIG. 7 [51] Int. Cl. F42B 11/16 [58]Field of Search lO2/DIG. 7, 38, 93, 87

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 219,881 9/l879 Streeter244/323 2,115,047 4/1938 Stevenson... 102/87 2.4()9,427 lO/l946 Fonberg1 244/323 2,4l2,266 l2/l946 Hoagland 244/323 3,033.1 l6 5/1962 Critcheret al.. lO2/DlG. 7 X 3.l48,472 9/1964 Heggc et al lOZ/DlG. 7 X 3,401,6369/1968 Ciccone et al l02/DlG. 7 X

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Fin Stabilization or Spin Major Hobart OrdnanceWeapons Technology Jan-Feb. 1973.

Primary ExaminerStephen C. Bentley Assistant ExaminerHarold TudorAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Nathan Edelberg; Robert P. Gibson [5 7}ABSTRACT A flechette small caliber projectile providing tracervisibility capability during flight while ballistically trajectorymatching a small caliber ball flechette and retaining a high velocitylow drag profile. Tracer material is located in a rearwardly openinginternal cavity provided in the flechette projectile cylindrical bodymporltion. Fin stabilizers surround or extend radially outward of thetracer cavity.

' 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PROJEC'IILE The invention described hereinmay be manufactured. used and licensed by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to projectiles, and more particularly to a smallcaliber flechette-type projectile.

It is an object of the invention to provide a small caliber flechetteprojectile having tracer visibility capability during its flight.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a projectile thatwill have ballistic trajectory equivalent to that of a small caliberball flechette projectile.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a projectile thatretains a high velocity low drag profile.

These and other objects. features and advantages will become moreapparent from the following description and accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view. paratially broken away in section. ofapreferred projectile embodying the principles of the invention. J

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

The small caliber flechette projectile. shown generally at (FlG.l has aforward nose portion I] and a substantially cylindrical rearward portionl2 (FIGS. 1, 2 carrying a plurality of fin stabilizers 13 at therearmost end of the projectile. Surrounding the forward portion of theprojectile. particularly at the tapered nose I1. is a plurality ofsegmental sabot portions l4 held in pre-flight position by anappropriate rubber sealing ring [5. The sabot has its own tapered noseand. after the projectile is fired from a suitable gun muzzle. itsmultiple segmental portions 14 are released and rapidly fall away fromthe projectile due to the operative expanding and rupturing of sealingring 15.

Preferably. the fin stabilizers 13. which extend substantially radiallyoutward from the rearward end ofcylindrical portion 12. are each formedto incline at a slight angle (approximately 1.5") to the longitudinalaxis of the projectile to facilitate imparting spin to the launchedprojectile.

The projectile cylindrical portion 12 is provided with a rcarwardlyopening. longitudinally extending. drilled internal tracer cavity 16 inwhich is located, preferably.

an elongated tube 17 of tracer material 18 and a somewhat shorter lengthof tubing 19 containing igniter material 20 (FIG. 2). The igniter tubeI9 is located at the rearward end of the cavity 16 and held in positionthcrebetween by an appropriate deforming action provided on the rearmostend of the then filled hollow cylindrical portion 12. The preferredmeans of deforming the rearward end of cylindrical portion 12 is bycrimping with an appropriate crimping tool positioned at predeterminedperipheral locations between rearmost portions of adjacent ones of theoutwardly extending fins l3. Preferably. the projectile cylindricalportion 12 has an external diameter of 0.l inches. its cavity 16 has arecessed or drilled surface diameter of 0.06 inches. and the span acrossa pair of substantially diametrically opposed fins IB is 0.2 inches.

Various modifications. changes or alterations may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. In a flechette projectile arrangement having a substantially pointedforward nose portionQa substantially cylindrical rearwardmost portion.and 'an intermediate substantially cylindrical portion.

said rearmos portion having a diameter greater than that of saidinttgrmediate portion. I said cylindrical rearwardmost portion having apluarlity of fin stabilizers extending radially outward l therefrom anda rearwaidly opening longitudinally extending internal tracer cavity.said cavity having a forward wall located rearward of said intermediatecylindrical portion.

a tube of tracer material in said cavity. y a multiple segmented sabotsurrounding said nose portion.

tube. for retaining said tracer tube in said cavity.

1. In a flechette projectile arrangement having a substantially pointedforward nose portion, a substantially cylindrical rearwardmost portion,and an intermediate substantially cylindrical portion, said rearmostportion having a diameter greater than that of said intermediateportion, said cylindrical rearwardmost portion having a pluarlity of finstabilizers extending radially outward therefrom and a rearwardlyopening longitudinally extending internal tracer cavity, said cavityhaving a forward wall located rearward of said intermediate cylindricalportion, a tube of tracer material in said cavity, a multiple segmentedsabot surrounding said nose portion, a rupturable rubber sealing ringsurrounding the multiple segmental sabot, each of said fin stabilizersextending in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis of saidprojectile, and means, including an igniter tube in a rearward end ofsaid cavity of said cylindrical rearmost portion and longitudinallyaligned rearwardly of said tracer tube, for retaining said tracer tubein said cavity.